Scaled for the ART OF TACTIC games, Zvezda has created another niche for the plastic modeler. Nine parts make up the tiny tank, ten if you add the game flag. All the parts are nicely detailed and the overall fit is pretty good. My only gripe would be the sprue connections could have been more user-friendly. I will point out that during construction I did use glue, just to tighten up the seams; maybe the typical gamer would not be bothered by this, but, as a typical modeler, it bothered me…but not a big deal. I spent around 30 minutes on the build before it went to the paint shop. Also included in the box is a game flag (to be attached to the tank) and game card. There are no decals or painting charts provided with the kit.

If ever there was proof that we are currently in a “gold age of modeling,” it is the release of models such as the one under review today. While produced in fairly large numbers (1200+), this French post-WW2 wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicle didn’t see widespread use outside the French Army. As far as I can determine, the only other military units to employ this vehicle were the Armed Forces of Portugal. Yet, despite this, here we have a state-of-the-art injection molded plastic kit of the subject!

Hobby Boss’ (Panhard) EBR-10 kit consists of over 330 well-detailed injection-molded plastic parts, contained on 10 tan colored sprues of various sizes. Along with the plastic parts come 8 “rubber” tires, a fret of photo etched brass parts, a small sheet of decals, and a 12-page instruction booklet. The modeler is forced to utilize the PE parts, since there are no plastic alternative parts contained within the kit as there are in some other manufacturers’ products.

History / Background

The Soviet D-30 (122mm howitzer) entered service with the Russian Army in 1963 as a replacement for the M-30 and M-1942 artillery pieces. Nearly fifty years on, the D-30 is still in active service in over fifty armies today, including the Afghans under supervision of US forces. Unlike a conventional artillery piece that utilizes two trail legs the D-30 uses three, and when deployed, the trails are placed into a very stable configuration separated by 120 degrees. In travel mode, the D-30's rearmost legs fold forward alongside the forward leg, and the entire gun is pulled via the tow ring on the muzzle. With this build, I broke one of my cardinal rules for modeling: avoid equipment made after 1946. Why did I break this rule? For one, the gun has been in service as long as I have been around, and for some strange reason I am attracted to the unconventional three leg configuration.

The relatively new Chinese company, Meng, has recently released the first-ever rendition of the British A-39 Tortoise, a behemoth ostensibly created to join battle with the German super-heavy tanks being designed at the close of World War II. The mind boggles at the specter of a platoon of (Tortai?) engaging a gaggle of MAUS monsters on the plains of Europe. Of the six vehicles completed, however, only one was sent across the channel for field testing, but it never entered combat.

History

The type 73 light truck is one of a series of light utility vehicles used in the Japanese self-defense forces. JSDF deployed these vehicles from 1973. Almost all of them were phased out by 2010.

Items in the box

The model is made of injection molded plastic, olive drab in color. The instructions were made up of a foldout form, printed on both sides. Clear molded plastic window and headlight lenses were supplied.